I went to Target today to fill a prescription and pick up a few items. I dropped off the prescription and asked them to text me when it was ready. They said it would be about 30 minutes. After I was done with my shopping, I checked my watch and 40 minutes had gone by so I headed back tot the pharmacy. Nothing was ready. Apparently, they didn't have enough of the pills to fill my prescriptions so they were waiting for me to come back to ask me what to do. Really??? They knew I was in the store shopping. Why didn't they just call and ask me so the prescription would be ready when I returned? Do they really think anyone would prefer to wait around while they get their act together?
I was furious. Forty minutes and they hadn't even started on my order. I have severe and acute vertigo (the prescription was for a nausea medication because vertigo makes you nauseous), so shopping in a store is really difficult for me. With the noise, movement, and overhead lights assaulting my senses, it makes me pretty sick. I was past ready to pick up my pills, check out and go home. So I had to wait for them to make up the prescription with whatever amount of pills they had on hand. And I'll have to go back to get the rest of the pills.
Since I can't stand in one spot for long, I had to sit on their counter which I'm sure they were not happy about. So I finally get my pills and pay for them and head to the checkout. I was fortunate to walk right up to a very pleasant cashier. Unfortunately, there was a problem with my Target credit card. Since I get 5% off with that credit card, I didn't want to use another card to check out. That meant calling Target credit since they could not do anything about it at the store.
To make a long story somewhat shorter, I was finally able to check out and get my discount, but had to spend about 10 minutes on the phone getting things straightened out.
Target is one of my favorite stores and they are still suffering from the massive credit card hack last Christmas. They really need to work harder to make it easier to shop in their stores.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Dread of flying
We just returned from a 2 week vacation. We had a great time, but traveling is so difficult and exhausting. I remember when it used to be fun; an occasion. People dressed up and were on their best behavior. Don't believe me?
I was a stewardess in the mid-sixties. There were all sorts of rules about who the airlines would consider for employment. You had to be a certain height and and weight, well groomed, well spoken, and somewhat attractive. When I applied there had been an ad in my local (Philadelphia) newspaper. At least 200 young women showed up to be interviewed. There were 10 interviewers and the interview lasted about 5 minutes. About 20 of us were asked to return for a second interview. After the second interview I was asked to take psychological and physical exams. Five of the original 200 were chosen to attend Stewardess school.
I loved stew school. It was my first time away from home. I was 19. I met some great young women and am still in touch with some of them. We learned the theory of flight; how to put on makeup, how to serve meals on many different aircraft, something called legalities which had to do with how many hours we could work in a certain period of time for one thing. We got our hair cut. we flew in a plane when the engines were all shut down so we wouldn't panic if it happened for real. We evacuated down a slide in a mock-up. We had strict curfew hours and there was a scale at the entrance to the cafeteria.
I was assigned to fly out of Newark Airport. I found an apartment with 2 other stews in NYC. The job itself was difficult. We took tickets; we did not have serving carts - we carried everything out by hand individually. We had to wear a girdle (our supervisors checked by slapping our butts), no jewelry of any kind (we could not be married), and our hair could not touch the collar of our uniform (most of us wore wigs). We served free drinks!! Every passenger was entitled to two servings of alcohol.
A majority of passengers were men, and we were supposed to appear available and friendly. Everybody dressed up - men wore suits and women wore suits or dresses. It was all very civil. You got to the airport, checked your bag, walked to your gate with anyone who wanted to see you off, got on the plane and were on your way. No hassles at all. You got to keep your shoes on. You could kiss your spouse goodbye right at the gate. You paid for your ticket and nothing else - no other charges...NONE!! You didn't have to buy food or bring it with you. You didn't have to pay to check your suitcase. There was no security to go through - no conveyor belts, no machines to see you practically naked, no pat-downs. Very civil. Something to look forward to.
Today it's all a mess, a big hassle. I'm old and have medical problems that make it all really difficult. I have to really want to go somewhere to put up with it all. I much prefer to go someplace we can drive to easily. But we have no ocean in Phoenix and I miss the Atlantic - the Jersey shore to be specific. So once a year, I take an ativan and do it.
We're back now and it's the jet lag that's getting to me. I haven't unpacked yet. My husband just told me he unzipped his suitcase. He hasn't unpacked either. Maybe tomorrow will be better.
I was a stewardess in the mid-sixties. There were all sorts of rules about who the airlines would consider for employment. You had to be a certain height and and weight, well groomed, well spoken, and somewhat attractive. When I applied there had been an ad in my local (Philadelphia) newspaper. At least 200 young women showed up to be interviewed. There were 10 interviewers and the interview lasted about 5 minutes. About 20 of us were asked to return for a second interview. After the second interview I was asked to take psychological and physical exams. Five of the original 200 were chosen to attend Stewardess school.
I loved stew school. It was my first time away from home. I was 19. I met some great young women and am still in touch with some of them. We learned the theory of flight; how to put on makeup, how to serve meals on many different aircraft, something called legalities which had to do with how many hours we could work in a certain period of time for one thing. We got our hair cut. we flew in a plane when the engines were all shut down so we wouldn't panic if it happened for real. We evacuated down a slide in a mock-up. We had strict curfew hours and there was a scale at the entrance to the cafeteria.
I was assigned to fly out of Newark Airport. I found an apartment with 2 other stews in NYC. The job itself was difficult. We took tickets; we did not have serving carts - we carried everything out by hand individually. We had to wear a girdle (our supervisors checked by slapping our butts), no jewelry of any kind (we could not be married), and our hair could not touch the collar of our uniform (most of us wore wigs). We served free drinks!! Every passenger was entitled to two servings of alcohol.
A majority of passengers were men, and we were supposed to appear available and friendly. Everybody dressed up - men wore suits and women wore suits or dresses. It was all very civil. You got to the airport, checked your bag, walked to your gate with anyone who wanted to see you off, got on the plane and were on your way. No hassles at all. You got to keep your shoes on. You could kiss your spouse goodbye right at the gate. You paid for your ticket and nothing else - no other charges...NONE!! You didn't have to buy food or bring it with you. You didn't have to pay to check your suitcase. There was no security to go through - no conveyor belts, no machines to see you practically naked, no pat-downs. Very civil. Something to look forward to.
Today it's all a mess, a big hassle. I'm old and have medical problems that make it all really difficult. I have to really want to go somewhere to put up with it all. I much prefer to go someplace we can drive to easily. But we have no ocean in Phoenix and I miss the Atlantic - the Jersey shore to be specific. So once a year, I take an ativan and do it.
We're back now and it's the jet lag that's getting to me. I haven't unpacked yet. My husband just told me he unzipped his suitcase. He hasn't unpacked either. Maybe tomorrow will be better.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Golden Rule
I try to live my life by the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, or treat people the way you want to be treated. It seems simple enough. I just think to myself, how would I want to be treated in this particular situation. Would I want to be yelled at, made to feel stupid, or ignored? Probably not. And yet, this is the way many people conduct business.
I live in an area with many small businesses and independant contractors. They are mostly in the service industry: massage, facial, and other spa-like services. It is highly competitive. Prices are low because of so much competition. It's a consumer's paradise, really. The one thing that can make a person or business stand out is great customer service. Yet so many business owners have no idea what that means. They may know their job, but they don't know how to treat their clients.
Before retiring, I owned 2 completely different small businesses. The first was a travel agency in the late 70s and early 80s. It was very successful. I sold it in 1983 after it became clear that the travel business was going to change...a lot, due to deregulation.
The second was basically Tax Prep. After selling the travel agency, I became a CPA. In both cases, excellent customer service meant return business.
Recently, I've been running into questionable (or even unacceptable) customer service all the time. I had a facial 2 weeks ago and the owner/facialist answered her phone twice while we were in session. Then she left me alone in the room for 10 minutes with a mask on my face. Neither of those behaviors is acceptable.
A couple of months ago I had a massage at a local massage therapy business. It was the second time I'd been there, which made me a return customer, meaning I was happy with my first visit. I was treated horribly by the owner herself. First she ignored me when I was ready to pay and leave. Then she yelled at me and called me rude. And this was the Owner! When I got home I called her to try to give her some feedback but she continued to yell at me. So I took to the internet: Yelp, Google, Trip Adviser. I posted reviews on all of them.
When someone does get the customer service right, I'm quick to praise them and tell them exactly what they are doing right. I've also been known to make suggestions for things they might want to try in the future.
I've been trying to think of some way I could help those who would like to be helped. Clearly, some don't want to know and think they are already doing things right. But others would probably welcome a way to grow their business. I contacted the local Chamber of Commerce to see if they would want me to conduct a workshop but they never got back to me. I've thought about setting up a feedback website and I may look into that.
I live in an area with many small businesses and independant contractors. They are mostly in the service industry: massage, facial, and other spa-like services. It is highly competitive. Prices are low because of so much competition. It's a consumer's paradise, really. The one thing that can make a person or business stand out is great customer service. Yet so many business owners have no idea what that means. They may know their job, but they don't know how to treat their clients.
Before retiring, I owned 2 completely different small businesses. The first was a travel agency in the late 70s and early 80s. It was very successful. I sold it in 1983 after it became clear that the travel business was going to change...a lot, due to deregulation.
The second was basically Tax Prep. After selling the travel agency, I became a CPA. In both cases, excellent customer service meant return business.
Recently, I've been running into questionable (or even unacceptable) customer service all the time. I had a facial 2 weeks ago and the owner/facialist answered her phone twice while we were in session. Then she left me alone in the room for 10 minutes with a mask on my face. Neither of those behaviors is acceptable.
A couple of months ago I had a massage at a local massage therapy business. It was the second time I'd been there, which made me a return customer, meaning I was happy with my first visit. I was treated horribly by the owner herself. First she ignored me when I was ready to pay and leave. Then she yelled at me and called me rude. And this was the Owner! When I got home I called her to try to give her some feedback but she continued to yell at me. So I took to the internet: Yelp, Google, Trip Adviser. I posted reviews on all of them.
When someone does get the customer service right, I'm quick to praise them and tell them exactly what they are doing right. I've also been known to make suggestions for things they might want to try in the future.
I've been trying to think of some way I could help those who would like to be helped. Clearly, some don't want to know and think they are already doing things right. But others would probably welcome a way to grow their business. I contacted the local Chamber of Commerce to see if they would want me to conduct a workshop but they never got back to me. I've thought about setting up a feedback website and I may look into that.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Why is that:
people get to the checkout at the grocery store and act like they don't realize they have to pay. The total gets rung up and they just stand there looking stupid. Then, all of a sudden, it occurs that the transaction is going to require them to do something. So they pull out their check book and slowly start writing a check, but before handing it to the cashier, they decide to enter all the info in the register. Meanwhile everyone behind them is standing there for an eternity, waiting.... And then it starts all over again with the next in line.
the car in front of you in the passing lane is going 1 mile an hour over the speed limit? And refuses to get over and let you pass.
trucks on the interstate decide to pass another truck on the uphill? When neither of the trucks can hardly move at all.
I never have a pair of glasses in the same room where I need them?
the doctor's office calls to tell you they have to change your appointment. You've called ahead and had this appointment for 3 weeks. The appointment is supposed to be in the next few days but all of a sudden it's a month away. In other words, you go to the bottom of the list. NOT FAIR!
you absolutely, positively have to send an email immediately and your browser freezes.
people get to the checkout at the grocery store and act like they don't realize they have to pay. The total gets rung up and they just stand there looking stupid. Then, all of a sudden, it occurs that the transaction is going to require them to do something. So they pull out their check book and slowly start writing a check, but before handing it to the cashier, they decide to enter all the info in the register. Meanwhile everyone behind them is standing there for an eternity, waiting.... And then it starts all over again with the next in line.
the car in front of you in the passing lane is going 1 mile an hour over the speed limit? And refuses to get over and let you pass.
trucks on the interstate decide to pass another truck on the uphill? When neither of the trucks can hardly move at all.
I never have a pair of glasses in the same room where I need them?
the doctor's office calls to tell you they have to change your appointment. You've called ahead and had this appointment for 3 weeks. The appointment is supposed to be in the next few days but all of a sudden it's a month away. In other words, you go to the bottom of the list. NOT FAIR!
you absolutely, positively have to send an email immediately and your browser freezes.
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